Where Darkness Lies

From the Vision Quest Tarot, the Five of Water (Cups); from the Bird Signs/Ascension to Paradise Cards, Flamingo:

There are some things in this world you rely on, like a sure bet. And when they let you down, shifting from where you've carefully placed them, it shakes your faith, right where you stand.

― Sarah Dessen

The Five of Water/Cups is a card of emotional loss brought on by disillusionment, when our expectations or beliefs fail to line up with reality. And what part of reality did we miss? Alisa Denis wrote: "Ignorance is the way the world feels solid when it’s not, the way the self feels central when it’s not, the way we keep expecting what is changing to finally settle down and behave. Ignorance is not a moral failure, it’s a perceptual one." When feeding, the Flamingo plunges its head into the water, twists it upside down, and scoops up its meal using its upper beak like a shovel. It reminds us to keep a close eye on what is happening right where we are rather than get caught up in fantasies about the future. As the Japanese proverb says, "darkness lies at the foot of the lighthouse." 

A Tiny Shift

This week I'll be using the Vision Quest Tarot, a deck created by Gayle Silvie Winter and Jo Dose (illustrator); it was published by AGM Müller. I'll also be using two combined oracles: Bird Cards and Ascension to Paradise, created by Jane Toerien (author) and Joyce van Dobben (illustrator); they were published by Altamira-Becht and Binkey Kok. Today's draws are Two of Air (Swords) and Owl:

Sometimes all it takes is a tiny shift of perspective to see something familiar in a totally new light.

 —Dan Brown

The Vision Quest Tarot was inspired by the Thoth, so the Two of Air/Swords emphasizes that inner peace is available. But it will require us to make an effort to see ideas from a different perspective, not just from the standpoint of what we desire or think we deserve. If we cling stubbornly to our ideas, we may end up as Michelle Thaller described: "Your brain may be as blind to reality as a grasshopper is to calculus." The Owl has long symbolized wisdom - direct, experiential insight into the true nature of reality rather than mere intellectual knowledge. Clinging to our views can turn us into that grasshopper if we refuse to acknowledge what is.

More than a Bank Account

From the Stone Tarot, the King of Pentacles; from the Buddhist Quote Cards, Dhammapada 12:159:

Your worth consists in what you are, and not in what you have.

What you are will show in what you do. 

—Thomas Davidson

Bank loan officers and brokers will often ask, "What's your worth?" They are interested in our net worth (what we own minus what we owe) and our liquid assets (cash or items easily converted into cash quickly). But the King of Pentacles would tell us it's not about what we have, it's about sustaining and growing what we have or knowing how to begin again if life tilts sideways. The Dhammapada verse reads: "One should do what one teaches others to do; if one would train others, one should be well controlled oneself. Difficult, indeed, is self-control." Before we take advice from others, we should look at the whole of their life - it might tell us more than what this person is trying to sell us.

Cloudy Within

From the Stone Tarot, the Moon; from the Buddhist Quote Cards, Dhammapada 19:256:

Darkness within clouds the world without.

―Anasazi Foundation

Our perception of reality is not an accurate reflection but a constructed interpretation. This subjective view is shaped by our prior experiences, expectations, cultural background, emotions, and physical states. If we're having a bad morning, we're likely going to view everything with the taint of negativity until that mood changes. The Moon reminds us that what we think is going on could be like the reflection of a fun house mirror. The Dhammapada verse reads: "One is not just who judges a case hastily." Be curious rather than rash and include for others' assessments. Clarity can be a complicated thing.

Endowment

From the Stone Tarot, the Ten of Pentacles; from the Buddhist Quote Cards, Dhammapada 1:19:

Every person has a legacy. ...it may not be something that you can write on your tombstone, but every person has an impact on this world. ―Dara Horn

These pentacles move from a room through an arch, to the outside. The legacy we leave behind involves more than money - our actions and their effects are also our continuation. The Dhammapada verse reads: "Much though he recites the sacred texts, but acts not accordingly, that heedless man is like a cowherd who only counts the cows of others — he does not partake of the blessings of the holy life." Has our life been a performative display designed to impress, or a have we modeled responsibility and accountability?

Reason to Celebrate

From the Stone Tarot, the Nine of Wands; from the Buddhist Quote Cards, Dhammapada 14:186:

At the end of the day, the fact we have the courage to still be standing is reason enough to celebrate. 

— Meredith Grey

Celebrations are often thought of as a time to party and have fun. Yet the sweetest victories are the hard-fought ones: the cancer patient in remission, a victim of physical abuse who later finds and embraces love, a struggling student who eventually earns a degree. These successes may not be as rowdy, but they are indeed commemorations of deep gratitude and full hearts. The Dhammapada verse reads: "Not even with a shower of gold coins would we find satisfaction in sensual craving." Buddha spoke of sensual enjoyment (outward pleasures) and non-sensual enjoyment (inward contentment). While there's nothing wrong with pleasure, it is like a mud puddle - it tends to dry up quickly, leaving us chasing the next pleasure in an attempt to find happiness. Just as those arduous victories require an inner strength, so too can we find a source of gladness within us.

Suffocating Darkness

From the Stone Tarot, the Ten of Wands; from the Buddhist Quote Cards, Dhammapada 7:94:

Despair is anger with no place to go.

—Mignon McLaughlin

This painting illustrates the suffocating darkness and hopelessness experienced when life's burdens become unbearably heavy. It's not the little things, but the ones that we must bear daily that can overwhelm us: struggling to pay bills with a too small paycheck, caring for a severely autistic or physically disabled child, being responsible for a fragile, elderly parent. Life is not fair; it's a crap shoot. How do we keep on keeping on (as my MIL used to say)? The Dhammapada verse reads: "Even the gods cherish those who are without craving, who have abandoned conceit, and whose senses are calm, like horses well tamed by a charioteer." Craving, in this case, is akin to demanding things be different, and conceit is thinking we're entitled to a better lot in life. Neither of these reactions will help. But what can aid us in turning our anger and depression into compassion is to connect with others who are in similar straits. Not the folks who want to have a pity party, but those with whom we can trade ideas with about handling situations that arise. 

Diligence

From the Stone Tarot, the Amazon (Knight) of Pentacles; from the Buddhist Quote Cards, Dhammapada 20:276:

Gardens are not made by singing 'Oh, how beautiful!' and sitting in the shade.

― Rudyard Kipling

Whether it's TV ads or social media, we've been groomed to think doing most anything should be easy. Working full time but want a college degree? No problem, just sign up for our online classes and we'll send you a degree. Want to plant a lush vegetable garden? Buy our tiller and you won't even break a sweat. The Amazon/Knight of Pentacles knows that nothing comes to fruition without a diligent effort - many involved steps come before reaching our goals. The Dhammapada quote reads: "It is up to you to make strong effort; buddhas merely tell you how." The intellectual pleasure we get from talking and planning things won't compare to the enjoyment of actually physically producing it, even with the dedicated work it requires.

A Worthy Price

This week I'll be using the Stone Tarot, a self-published deck by Alison Stone. I may also dip into her book of tarot poems (Ordinary Magic), although it wasn't written as a companion book. The oracle I'll be using is the Buddhist Quote Cards, painted and published by Diana Altenburg. Even though she has spiritual quotes (from John Lennon to Lao Tzu) on the back of the cards, I have decided to pair each card with a verse from the Dhammapada (a Buddhist text). Today's draws are the Nine of Swords and Dhammapada 16:220:

Grief is the price we pay for love. —Queen Elizabeth II

If we have close friends, family, a significant other or a pet, we likely have experienced the price of love. We worry about their safety, the consequences of their choices, and their health; we often grieve for things often just imagined. Before we spend too many sleepless nights wrapped in tear-soaked sheets, psychologist Lindsey Carnick suggests we ask ourselves three questions:

Is this worry helping them or just hurting me?

Am I trying to control what I can’t control?

Is this based on something real or imagined?

Maintaining our mental balance might bring more help to those we care about than worry. The Dhammapada quote reads: "Just so, in passing from this world to the next, the merit we have made receives us, as a family does the return of a beloved relative." We may think the best way to protect ourselves from worry is to wear an armor of indifference, but doing so leaves those around us without the gifts of compassion and kindness we could offer. Giving of our heart creates expansion, even though it makes us vulnerable.

Response-ability

From the Badgers Forest, the Two of Badgers (Swords); from the Gemstone Oracle, Magnesite:

The price of anything is the amount of life you exchange for it. 

—Henry David Thoreau

Two badgers face off - serious business for animals with such formidable jaw strength. In high density clans, female badges will often compete for breeding rights in order to adjust clan size for resource availability. Major decisions are often based on what we will get from each option, yet it might be wiser to choose based on what each one will cost us, physically, mentally and emotionally. Magnesite represents a state of grounded calmness that grants us clarity, knowing that we are responsible for our choices and actions. As Stephen Covey wrote, "Accountability breeds response-ability." 

Innie or Outie?

From the Badgers Forest Tarot, the Wheel; from the Gemstone Oracle, Carnelian:

Abiding nowhere, awakened mind arises.

—Diamond Sutra

This mouse will soon discover, as he climbs further out on that branch, good fortune doesn't last and misfortune doesn't stay away. As the Wheel of life constantly turns, "abiding nowhere" is a wise option in this world of flux and impermanence. We often work ourselves into a lather as we try to move the Wheel faster toward what looks enjoyable, pull the emergency brake on places of contentment, or backpedal when something unpleasant appears. The Sutra tells us to let our minds open to where we are - enjoying happy times, taking care of our emotions, and dealing with challenges as they appear. Carnelian symbolizes courage and determination, two virtues that can help us deal with the transitory nature of this life. Yet these virtues are states of mind, an internal perspective based on understanding. We can be innies, working with our thoughts, or outies, expecting the world to arrange itself to our desires. As Thomas Oppong wrote: "When you stop forcing reality, clarity arrives on its own."

Relishing

From the Badgers Forest, the Knight of Rabbits (Wands); from the Gemstone Oracle, Citrine:

I am going to try to pay attention to the spring. I am going to look around at all the flowers and look up at the hectic trees. I am going to close my eyes and listen. 

—Anne Lamott

This Knight is described as always on the move with no clear direction. Head (and ears) on a swivel, he looks for what is agreeable, what is unpleasant and what is boring - moving toward the first and avoiding the last two. He notices things, but does he take the time to appreciate them? Does he see the flowers' colors, hear the owls hoot, feel the sun, smell the salty ocean air, or taste what he eats? Excitement and enthusiasm can cause us to tear through the moments rather than savor them. Citrine, which represents a fresh perspective, is paired with a quote by Rachel Joyce: "You could think you were starting something afresh, when actually what you were doing was carrying on as before." Relish rather than run, little rabbit.

Circle Up

From the Badgers Forest Tarot, the Hanged Bird; from the Gemstone Oracle, Aquamarine:

In a circle, there are no experts – instead there are stories, questions, tears, longings, dreams – and a bunch of equal people who trust their own wisdom and each other’s. 

—Heather Plett

Everyone knows someone who can be described as "never giving an inch." These folks believe their opinions are infallible and should always be heeded. But inevitably, the hard-liner meets reality head-on - hopefully realizing how little power or sway they have. Situations are rarely all black or white, so without knowing or understanding all the circumstances, we should avoid issuing any decrees. Aquamarine symbolizes a dose of common sense with a hefty helping of self-awareness. Can we see beyond what we think is right or wrong, and instead listen to others' experiences and just do something that might help?

A Second Look

From the Badgers Forest Tarot, Temperance; from the Gemstone Oracle, Pink Aventurine:

Sometimes the most significant power lies in what is left unsaid, in restraint, in timing, in the ability to pause. ―Egbearor Favour

This doe must feel a little bit squeezed as she walks through the trees growing so close together. It reminds me of being grounded as a teen, put on restriction for unruly behavior. Humans prefer to indulge their senses and emotions, not simply to satisfy but to submerge ourselves to the point of overflowing. Yet restraint is not a punishment, but a freedom; we don't allow our impulses to influence us irrationally and then end up being forced to deal with the consequences. Pink Aventurine is paired with Marcel Proust's words: “The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes.” Restraint allows us to be resourceful rather than heedless. It allows us to find new, nourishing ways to create, say or do things that our impulses often overlook.

Wonder

From the Badgers Forest, the Kit of Badgers (Page of Swords); from the Gemstone Oracle, Moss Agate:

The cure for boredom is curiosity. There is no cure for curiosity. 

—Dorothy Parker

Curiosity is what gets this Kit/Page out of bed every morning. It's not so much that he craves certainty, it's just that the world is so interesting and surprising that it pulls him like a magnet.  He follows a mystery, asks questions and reads to find answers, only to discover another wonder to uncover. Moss Agate symbolizes growth and natural cycles. As Frederick Douglas said, "Inaction is followed by stagnation." Our minds work the same way - if we think we have all the answers, they become closed and inflexible. As Socrates said, "Wisdom begins in wonder."

Better or Worse?

This week I'll be using the Badgers Forest Tarot, a deck created and self-published by Nakisha VanderHoeven. Along with it, I'll be using my Gemstone Oracle (with actual stones). Today's draws are the Seven of Crows (Pentacles) and Blue Lace Agate:

Patience entails choosing not to respond reactively, allowing other possibilities to arise.

—Gil Fronsdal

What is it that we are waiting for to ripen - test results, an ongoing project, a package in the mail, or simply for traffic or the line to move? Impatience is anger on simmer, and it benefits neither us nor progress. For most of us, it is a habitual reaction - we just don't know what to do with our frustrated energy. The quality of patience involves gentle restraint, calm endurance, and acceptance of what is. If we want to practice it, we first need to distract ourselves, so we'll calm down. Blue Lace Agate embodies the qualities of patience and calmness (it's a great touchstone when we hit simmer). And the quote that accompanies it has sage advice: “Every human interaction offers you the chance to make things better or to make things worse.” (Barbara Brown Taylor)

 

Effort + Encouragement

From the Animal Totem Tarot, the Chariot; from the Blum/Gern Rune Cards, Ansuz:

We all have dreams. But in order to make dreams come into reality, it takes an awful lot of determination, dedication, self-discipline, and effort. —Jesse Owens

Orcas are powerful, swimming up to 34.5 mph and armed with four-inch teeth. Our dreams can be just as potent and require us to stay firmly in the lane of reality rather than fantasy (imagination builds, fantasy escapes). When we hit roadblocks or delays, we might be tempted to wig out or give up, but creativity can be a great resource if we avoid those options. Ansuz represents communicated wisdom that inspires and guides. When we're in need of inspiration, we should choose our encouragers with care. As J.W. Goethe wrote, “Instruction does much, but encouragement everything."

A New Objective

From the Animal Totem Tarot, Justice; from the Blum/Gern Rune Cards, Berkana:

Bravery is the choice to show up and listen to another person, be it a loved one or perceived foe, even when it is uncomfortable, painful, or the last thing you want to do.

―Alaric Hutchinson

Like the crane's beak, the sword of Justice points upward - the truth is more inclusive than any personal viewpoint. But lord have mercy, when I am in conflict with someone, it is hard not to feel that my understanding of things is the correct perspective. Yet these times of frustration, according to Pema Chodron, are teachable moments: "They're like messengers that show us, with terrifying clarity, exactly where we're stuck." Maybe I'm not as open-minded as I think if I can't at least listen sincerely to the other person's full story before interrupting. Berakana symbolizes growth and new beginnings but warns that we must let go of our resistance before this occurs. The words of Peace Pilgrim are a good guide for resolution: "Have as your objective the resolving of the conflict, not the gaining of advantage. Be concerned that you do not offend, not that you are not offended."

Ready, Set, Fly

From the Animal Totem Tarot, the Six of Swords; from the Blum/Gern Rune Cards, Kano (Kenaz):

Face reality as it is, not as it was or as you wish it to be.

—Jack Welch

The Six of Swords is illustrated with a sugar glider, a small, gliding opossum with a predilection for sugary foods such as sap and nectar. Much like a flying squirrel, it can spread the membrane that extends from their forelegs to their hindlegs and glide up to 55 yards from tree to tree. With nothing solid to grasp onto, necessity is what launches it through the air. What makes us ready to leave the beliefs and mindset we cling to? Kano (Kenaz), symbolizing a torch, suggests that the darkness we've been hiding in (ignorance, denial or avoidance) has been illuminated. Wisdom convinces us that change and action is now a necessity.

Loose the Fireflies

From the Animal Totem Tarot, the Nine of Swords; from the Blum/Gern Rune Cards, Uruz:

Thoughts were zipping around my head like fireflies in a jar, bumping into each other, blinking on and off. ―Cameron West

Whip-poor-wills spend the day sitting motionless, becoming active only at dusk. Then they chase and eat insects like moths. These nocturnal birds have LOUD, distinctive voices. They are a fitting symbol for our restlessness and racing thoughts at night - it's hard to ignore them. We worry about what might occur, plan what we want to happen and rehash what we've already experienced. The irony is that none of those things are happening now. Uruz is a rune represented by the aurochs, a great beast similar to the modern-day bison. It suggests we find stability of mind by grounding ourselves in what is concrete, such as a body scan or diaphragmatic breathing. 

Living by Vow

From the Animal Totem Tarot, the Devil; from the Blum/Gern Rune Cards, Algiz:

I guess a man is the only kind of varmint sets his own trap, baits it, and then steps in it.

―John Steinbeck

How many times have we made a vow - that we would or wouldn't do a particular thing - then find ourselves blowing up that promise spectacularly? We are easily triggered to slip back into old habits. But from the Buddhist point of view, vows are not something that we do perfectly; we just keep heading toward the horizon even though we'll never reach it. As Koshin Paley Ellison put it, "A vow is about the shape we give our life. Living by vow is a place of practice." Algiz is a rune of protection. Blum writes that the spiritual warrior must not collapse into the highs or lows of emotions. If we can be mindful rather than swept away, we'll keep heading toward the horizon.

Taking Care of Business

This week I'll be using the Animal Totem Tarot, created by Eugene Smith with a companion book by Leeza Robertson; the set was published by Llewellyn. I'll also be using the Blum/Gern Rune Cards created by Ralph Blum and illustrated by Gabrielle Gern with publishing by Connections. Today's draws are the Knight of Pentacles and Sowilo:

What I do today is important, because I am exchanging a day of my life for it. When tomorrow comes, this day will be gone forever, leaving something in its place I have traded for it. 

― Heartsill Wilson

Prairie dogs are named for their habitat and warning calls, which sound similar to a dog's bark. The extensive underground colonies they dig can be recognized by the mounded holes at the burrow entrances, usually 30 to 50 per acre. These mounds serve as lookout points and as a way to keep water from entering the burrows. This Knight of Pentacles reminds us to be good stewards, to protect and care for what we hold dear. Sowilo ("sun") represents positive energy and drive, encouraging us to grow and thrive. While the Knight emphasizes what is external, Sowilo points to the wholeness of our lives, bringing to mind Rumer Godden's words: "...everyone is a house with four rooms, a physical, a mental, an emotional, and a spiritual. Most of us tend to live in one room most of the time but unless we go into every room every day, even if only to keep it aired, we are not a complete person."

Quiet Work

From the Tyldwick Tarot, the Queen of Coins; from the Antiquarian Lenormand, the Moon:

No one sees the quiet work, but that’s where the change happens. Your best results will come from the habits no one claps for.  —Aishwarya Mani Tripathi

Being "Water of Earth," it is not surprising to find this queen's portrait in a water garden. She may not be outspoken (as the Queen of Swords), flamboyant (like the Queen of Wands), or deeply empathetic (as the Queen of Cups), but she is practical and resourceful. She believes in starting with basic needs then working outward; her actions of kindness are concrete and useful. While what she does is not flashy, people appreciate and are reassured by her nurturing. The Moon in Lenormand is unlike the Moon card in tarot. It represents recognition and honor, just as the sun shines on the moon and allows it to reflect light. Small things done can mean a lot to those who are in need.

I Can See Clearly Now

From the Tyldwick Tarot, the Star; from the Antiquarian Lenormand, the Sun:

Given that both joy and pain are inevitable parts of life, what would a healthy, insightful response to the sheer fact of this reality be? ―Dale S. Wright

The Star offers us a place to pause and recuperate after the shock of our fall. When we are open to see the truth, it points to the problem of ignorance (not a lack of knowledge but rather a misunderstanding or misperception of the nature of reality and of ourselves). The Sun brings the antidote of wisdom, which exposes an accurate view of all things: nothing generates itself; nothing stands on its own; and nothing just is what it is forever. In other words, everything is in relationship to all else, created by causes and conditions that are impermanent and subject to change. Seeing with clarity, what would a wise response be in this moment?

Reward System

From the Tyldwick Tarot, the Nine of Cups; from the Antiquarian Lenormand, Coffin:

The brain effectively developed an in-house reward system for altruistic, prosocial behavior.

—Suzanne Degges-White

The 'wishes granted' card shows nine decanters of perfume. Our sense of smell is connected to the olfactory bulb, a part of the brain's limbic system that is often called the "emotional brain." Our brains forge a link between a smell and memory; good times produce good memories. Yet the sweet smell of such bottled fragrances only last two to three years, as the Coffin alludes to (endings). However, researchers have found that while self-focused actions can give us a feel-good bump, altruistic actions provide a more durable, long-term boost to our well-being. Such prosocial behavior engages us and gives us a feeling of belonging.